External Display with Lid Down?

I'm figuring out how to get an external display connected to my MacBook
So far, so good. I'm sitting at a big 20" wide-screen display as I type this.
Now, I want to be able to close the lid on the MacBook when I'm working on this big display... But, as currently configured, when I close the lid, the display on the MacBook goes dark and takes the external display with it.
Probably an easy solution... but damned if I know what it is...
Thanks,
--PS

When you close the screen, the MacBook will go to sleep. That's as designed and there's no way to prevent it that I know of. But you should be able to just press a key on your external keyboard and wake the system back up again.
That's working. Is the screen "on" when the lid is closed this way and I'm working from an external monitor? Seems to me that might not be such good thing.
Now, here's the only remaining problem: getting audio out of my Mac and into my stereo receiver?
The only audio out on the Mac is the earphone jack; the only inputs on my stereo are standard stereo line-in inputs.
I can connect them that way, but there's an impedance mismatch which = hum. Is there an adapter or something that can overcome that?
Thanks for the help,
--PS

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External display with lid shut

I have a MacBook Pro, blue tooth keyboard and mouse, and hooked up to a HDTV with the DVI cable. So when I have all that hooked up, why when I shut the lid does it go to sleep? I have read thru these forums, and cannot find a clear answer. Some say that if you hook up an external display and a usb keyboard and mouse, it will work, but I'm not using a "monitor" and not USB mouse and keyboard. Is there something I can change that I'm not finding so that when I shut the lid, the screen will shut off, but will show on the HDTV? I read in one post how it could overheat, but I think they were referring to if you turned off the sleep mode, and shut the lid so that the LCD would still remain on (not hooked up to an extarnal display). Which honestly I wouldn't see the point in that. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

Hi,
I don't have the exact set up as you, but I do use a bluetooth mouse and keyboard with an external monitor.
Here's what I do:
Shut the lid of your MBP, wait until the sleep light flashes, and then press any key on your keyboard. That should wake up your external monitor and get you functional.
Amy

System hangs after using external display with lid closed

I often use my MBP with the lid closed with an external display and Bluetooth mouse and keyboard. When done in this mode, I put the system to sleep using the apple menu, then disconnect the monitor. I found some info on the apple site explaining that this was the recommended procedure for exiting the lid-closed mode.
However, sometimes the system doesn't go to sleep. Opening the lid, the LED goes out, but the display remains off. If I then try reconnecting the external monitor, nothing happens. It appears that it has gone into some mode where it is active, but no displays are enabled. My only resource at this point is to power the system off and back on, at which point everything is ok.
I'm wondering if turning off my bluetooth devices after selecting the sleep menu item is causing the system to reawaken at a bad time, causing this state to occur.
I have also run into problems when connecting an external projection monitor. On several occassions I have connected the external display adapter before turning on the projector, or before connecting it to the adapter, and the system locked-up hard (no mouse movement, etc). My only recourse was hard power off.
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Try SleepLess…
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/17893
… or InsomniaX…
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/30315

External display with lid closed wont work

I have a PB G4 Ti and have connected it to a second display. I have followed the articles on this site but nothing will wake the PB when the lid is still closed. has anyone got any ideas as to why this might be?
Thanks

I'm not sure what the articles say, but here's what I do to make mine work:
1) With the Powerbook shut down, connect the second display
2) Start it up - both displays should be working
3) log in and put the Powerbook to sleep by closing the lid
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Audio & video via HDMI to an external monitor with lid closed.

I would like to run a Macbook Pro Retina (2014) with the lid closed and all video and audio via HDMI routed to an external monitor (Samsung Syncmaster from 2010). Is this possible? When I try this, no sound is transferred to the external monitor and I cannot operate the Macbook Pro with the lid closed. As soon as I close the lid, it cuts the signal to the external screen.
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Seems like there may be two separate questions here. Audio working in either configuration and video from HDMI when lid closed. First, you are doing this with the Mac running off of AC, not battery, right?
Audio:
Is the HCMI cable you are using able to carry the audio? Some cables don't.
The only way I've ever used external displays with lid closed is with the thunder port (or DVI) adapter, not with the HDMI. I see the specs from Apple:
HDMI video output
Support for 1080p resolution at up to 60Hz
Support for 3840-by-2160 resolution at 30Hz
Support for 4096-by-2160 resolution at 24Hz
So have you tried varying the screen res to determine the results? I can find no specs regarding what ports remain operational in clamshell. Like you, I would have assumed all of them.
I suspect only the thunderbolt port would support your desired config -- try a thunderbolt/hdmi adapter.
Finally, clamshell mode doesn't allow the MBP to cool efficiently. Heat kills electronics, so if it's too warm or the fans really kick in, you might want to reconsider this setup.

External display with MAcbook closed?

Trying to set up an external display with my macbook. Is there some way to use the Macbook closed? I want to be able to use the external monitor as my main display and don't need the built in screen. Thought this was possible. Thanks for any insights.

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How do I use an external display with a macbook pro?

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Regards,
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http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3131

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I have a ThinkPad E531 laptop, and that includes are VGA and HDMI plug. The video card is Intel HD. Can I use 2 external monitor (over VGA and HDMI) with the internal display? (So I want to use 3 displays).
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Tamás

Hello dljfield,
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.
If you'd like to use multiple external displays with a MacBook Pro with Retina display, then please take a look at the information outlined below. A 15" MacBook Pro mid-2014 can support up to two external displays using different outputs.
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014) - Technical Specifications
OS X Yosemite: Connect multiple displays to your Mac
Take care,
Alex H.

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You are referring to a feature called Clamshell Mode, please read Clamshell Mode setup for instructions.
BTW when posting when you use generalities such as "have tried everything" this tells us nothing. When posting please be specific and try to paint a complete picture. It just makes things easier for those trying to help you.

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Eyeore

Read through this....
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3131

External Display with Lid Down?

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